Just wanted to chime in as someone who works in benefits administration (not SSA, but similar federal program). The folks above are absolutely correct - COLA increases apply to ALL current beneficiaries regardless of when you started receiving benefits. It's actually one of the most straightforward aspects of Social Security! One small tip: when you do start receiving benefits in October 2025, I'd recommend setting up a my Social Security account at ssa.gov if you haven't already. You'll be able to see your payment history, download your benefit verification letters, and most importantly, you can see exactly how the COLA increase affects your benefit amount in real-time when it gets applied in January 2026. Good luck with your retirement planning! It sounds like you're being very thoughtful about the timing and budget considerations.

I just wanted to add something that might be helpful for your planning - when you do get that COLA increase in January 2026, remember that it might also affect your Medicare Part B premium if you're enrolled in Medicare. The standard Part B premium is typically deducted directly from your Social Security benefit, and sometimes the premium increases can offset part of your COLA increase. For 2025, the standard Part B premium is $185 per month, but they usually announce the following year's premium amount around the same time as the COLA announcement in October. So when you're calculating your net benefit increase for January 2026, you'll want to factor in any potential Medicare premium changes too. Just something to keep in mind since you mentioned you're trying to budget for next year! The good news is that even with Medicare premium adjustments, you typically still come out ahead with the COLA increase.

One final tip - when you go to your appointment, ask them to show you a benefit comparison between filing for your own benefits only versus filing for the combination of yours plus ex-spouse benefits. In rare cases, it might actually be more advantageous to file a restricted application for just the ex-spouse benefits and let your own benefit continue to grow until age 70. The rules changed in 2015, but some people born before 1954 still have this option.

Another thing to keep in mind - if you remarried after your divorce, you generally can't claim benefits on your ex-husband's record unless that subsequent marriage ended (either by divorce, death, or annulment). Since you didn't mention remarrying, this probably doesn't apply to you, but it's worth noting for others in similar situations. Also, your ex-spouse benefits won't affect his benefits at all - he'll still receive his full amount regardless of what you collect. Good luck with your appointment!

One more thing to consider - when your spouse does reach retirement age, you should definitely reapply for spousal benefits even if you think the GPO might eliminate them. The calculations are complex, and depending on the size of their pension versus their Social Security benefit, you might still get some additional amount. Also, keep in mind that the rules for disability benefits can differ from retirement benefits in terms of how they interact with spousal benefits. Make sure when you contact SSA you specifically mention you're on SSDI, not retirement benefits, as this changes how certain provisions apply.

I'm dealing with a similar situation but from a slightly different angle - my spouse has been on SSDI for 8 years and I work for the state (pension system). We're trying to plan ahead for when I retire in about 10 years. One thing our benefits counselor mentioned that might apply to your situation: even though your spouse switched to a pension-only job, those earlier 18-20 years of SS contributions don't disappear. They'll still factor into any future Social Security retirement benefit calculation, just reduced by WEP if applicable. Also, regarding SSI - it's worth asking about even though you're married. SSI has income and asset limits, but they do consider your household situation. With your SSDI being so low and depending on your spouse's income, you might qualify for some supplemental amount. The worst they can say is no, but it could potentially help bridge that gap until your spouse reaches retirement age. Have you considered contacting your local Area Agency on Aging or disability advocacy organization? They often have benefits counselors who specialize in these complex multi-program situations and can walk through the scenarios with you for free.

does anyone know if they check if ur actually living together for these benefits? asking for a friend lol

Just wanted to add something that might help with your planning - you mentioned your husband's health isn't great. If he becomes disabled and starts receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), that could actually increase his benefit amount, which would then increase your potential survivor benefit too. SSDI benefits are calculated differently and can sometimes be higher than early retirement benefits. Also, if he's currently receiving reduced benefits because he claimed before his full retirement age, those reductions don't carry over to survivor benefits - you'd get his full unreduced amount. So even if you're both expecting $750 now, the actual survivor benefit could end up being more. Definitely worth getting a personalized estimate from SSA when you're ready to make concrete plans.

Thank you all for the responses! I think I'm going to try to talk to a Social Security rep directly about my specific situation. Then I'll probably wait until 70 to maximize my benefit since I'm fortunate enough to have some savings to tide me over. It's disappointing that the restricted application strategy isn't available to me, but I appreciate understanding my actual options clearly now.

One additional consideration for your situation: since you mentioned being out of the workforce since 2020 due to health issues, you might want to explore whether you qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). If approved, SSDI benefits automatically convert to retirement benefits at your full retirement age without any reduction. This could potentially bridge the gap if you're struggling financially while waiting until 70. The application process can be lengthy, but it's worth investigating if your health condition meets SSA's definition of disability. You can apply online or through that Claimyr service mentioned earlier to speak with an agent about eligibility requirements.